Rana Riaz Saeed 1 - ResearchGate

Socio-Economic, Political & Gender Situation of Tribal Areas’
Women in Sulaiman Mountain Range -PAKISTAN
Buzdar tribe was settled here almost 500 years ago at the time of Mir Chakar Khan Rind. The general
social situation of women in the Sulaiman mountain range tribal area is as followed.
Education
Education is the most important factor in a study to determine the level of perception of a person or
community about any issue. Therefore, information reveals that primary level (5 th Grade) educational
facilities are available in 50% of the villages only. The 8 th Grade education facilities are available in
20% villages, 13% villages have up to 10 th Grade, whereas in 17% villages the educational facilities
are non existent at all. Only in 30% villages primary level educational facilities are available for women
with an exception of 2 villages namely village Khar of Tuman Laghari and village Methawan of Tuman
Qaisrani where women secondary schools are instituted.
The education level of respondents was also obtained during the study. However, less respondents,
in total 449 wherein 191 female, informed about their education. The comparison is given in the table
below.
Comparison of Male-Female Education Level
Education Level
Gender
Female Male
Percent Percent
Illiterate 85% 46%
Grade-5 13% 17%
Grade-8 2% 16%
Matric or Secondary Grade-10 0% 13%
Higher Secondary 0% 4%
Graduate 0% 2%
Post Graduate 0% 3%
Total 100% 100%
Source: DAL Study on Situation of Tribal Areas’ Women of Sulaiman Range -2006
With regard to educational level of respondents, 85% women as compared to 46% men are illiterate.
Only 13% women have passed primary i.e. Grade 5 against 17% men. Just about 2% women have
passed their Grade 8 level examination as compared to 16% men. Unfortunately, no woman has
reached or ever attended 10 th grade level of her education.
Since the tribal area is hilly, remote and local women are not educated adequately; therefore female
staff is recruited from urban areas. The staff for many reasons such as social order, Feudal-Sardari
system and lack of transport facilities has least interest in their jobs. Consequently, the schools are
either operative poorly or non-operative. In given situation, the locals depend on Masjid Schools 13 ,
which is one of the main reasons for the under development and poverty in the area.
There are several reasons of low educational level among women given by the people. Mainly,
because the non-availability of educational facilities for women in mostly villages of Sulaiman range
TA. Women are unable to get education beyond 5 th Grade as no higher school facilities exist in the
vicinity or are far away and outside the village. In such situation, the tribal customs do not allow
women to go far away or outside the village for education purpose. Lack of enough resources to
educate girls is another factor. Likewise, initially women education was not considered good and on
priority because it was considered investment on other. There was no use of that money to her family
rather to other family where she marries. The son is considered to be a supportive in older age but
now some educated families do it. Furthermore, having realized that the daughters of feudal are
getting education abroad, now we have started to educate our girls, a man explained.
An educated woman expressed that education opportunity is not provided to woman though a woman
education is considered … education of a family and a man education of an individual. She suggested
that women should focus on education to bring change in society, peace and democracy in our area
and the country. However, a Tehsil Nazim (men) said that educated women give proper attention to
13 Mosque School
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